'Survivor' Finale Recap: Girls Rule, Boys Drool
Girls rule, boys drool — over the $1 million prize on Survivor: San Juan del Sur. In Wednesday night's finale, Natalie Anderson won over two other women by gaining votes from a nearly all-male jury.
The 28-year-old from New Jersey gained the title of Sole Survivor over fellow finalists Jaclyn Schultz and Missy Payne by proving she had outwitted, outplayed, and outlasted. She did it despite a cast that was more male than female — and also losing her partner, twin sister Nadiya, in the very first vote of the season.
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The sisters, known by the nickname "the Twinnies," were no strangers to reality competitions; they took part in two seasons of The Amazing Race. In their All-Stars season, the Andersons were eliminated first. It seemed that things would go as badly in Survivor when Nadiya was voted out in the first week. Instead, that spurred on Natalie to hang on.
"I'm thinking if she got kicked out first, I'd be the last one out," she told the jury in the final tribal council.
5 to 4
The finale starts with five players — Natalie, Jaclyn, Baylor, Missy, and Keith — and there is a universal feeling among the women that they want to vote out Keith if they can. Unfortunately, he won the reward challenge, which gives him an advantage in the immunity challenge.
That turns out to be unlimited practice time at the immunity challenge game, and Keith handily beats the women to get into the final four.
It seems that Missy and Baylor, as an intact couple, can decide the outcome of the vote. But Natalie, crafty as ever, takes up Jaclyn's offer to ally with each other. At tribal council, Natalie uses her immunity idol to save Jaclyn — sending Baylor to Ponderosa.
4 to 3
The final immunity challenge is a big one: a huge obstacle course involving difficult tasks, a massive slide, and a lot of stairs. Keith and Natalie get off to a big lead, with Jaclyn lagging behind (Missy couldn't play due to her broken leg).
But Jaclyn manages to catch up in the puzzle portion and, despite a very worrisome tumble, ends up winning! With the improbable come-from-behind victory, she's in the final three. But who will she take with her?
Keith makes his pitch, as does Natalie. Missy tries to argue that Natalie is a threat. When they go to tribal council, it's unclear whether Jaclyn would backstab Nat (after Nat had saved her at the last tribal). But when the votes come in, they all read Keith. The ladies have stuck together and triumphed.
As they inhale a delicious brunch, all three work on their final pitches to the jury. At tribal council, they all try to focus on their gameplay. Missy talks about her loyalty and strength, considering she broke her foot. Jaclyn mentions the condition which prevents her from having children. And Natalie acknowledges that the other two made a mistake by even bringing her to the finale, as she played such a strong game.
Jury time
There's not a lot of acrimony. It's clear Jon will vote for Jaclyn, Baylor for Missy, and Jeremy for Nat. Keith seems a little perturbed that Natalie lied to him before voting him out, but the dude has no idea how to play Survivor, so nothing he says holds much weight.
Reed tears into Missy, calling her a "wicked stepmother" who spoiled her daughter Baylor while being condescending and rude to those outside her alliance. His speech caused Baylor to start crying.
Everyone votes, and the show switches to the live show. Host Jeff Probst reads the tally, which crowns Natalie as Sole Survivor.
